Chargers rally to knock off Panthers as Lady Suns Classic rolls toward championship Saturday

AUGUSTA, Ill. — Kennedy Gunning’s reaction said it all.

In a rematch of a three-set roller coaster that took place just nine days ago, Gunning delivered the game-winning kill for the Illini West volleyball team in a 20-25, 25-18, 15-11 victory over Camp Point Central in Lady Suns Classic pool play Thursday.

Her subsequent celebration encapsulated the Chargers’ emotions in avenging their loss.

“It was like, ‘Whoa, I can do this. We are there, we are a great team,'” Gunning said.

The Chargers showed resolve after dropping the first set and trailing 7-4 in the third set.

“When we were down, we knew we had it. We knew we could come back and win,” Gunning said.

Chargers coach Sawyer Johnson said this victory will stick with her for quite some time.

“That was so much fun to watch,” Johnson said. “We’ll remember this one.”

Illini West also rattled off four points in a row and nine of the next 11 after the second set was tied at 9. Central coach Sarah Bauer-Herron said the Panthers let mistakes add up and dictate their energy especially in the second and third sets.

“I felt like we worked through our mistakes better the first match we played them,” Bauer-Herron said. “Tonight it just seemed like because we had a couple more hitting errors, it just fed through our energy. Instead of being ready for the next ball, I feel like the girls were too worried about what had already happened.”

Illini West can clinch a spot in Saturday’s championship pool with a win over Payson Seymour on Friday, while Central finishes pool play 2-1 and awaits the results of Friday’s matches to determine their fate on Saturday.

Mustangs prove mettle in victory over Hornets

Unity’s plethora of underclassmen may not realize how big any given moment in a match is just yet, but Mustangs coach Seth Klusmeyer prefers it that way.

“For the most part, I don’t think they sense the urgency of what’s going on out there right now,” Klusmeyer said. “Later in the season, the pressure might get to them, but for now they’re staying pretty even keel.”

The Mustangs shook off a tough break late in Thursday’s match against Brown County to squeak out a 21-25, 25-15, 15-12.

With Unity leading 13-11 in the third set, Hornets sophomore middle hitter Kenzie Kassing’s serve caught the tape of the net and trickled over for an ace. On the next play, Mustangs junior Kodi Duke blocked Brooke Garthaus’ bid at a set-tying kill. At match point, fellow junior Saylor Barry sealed the deal with a swing off the top of the Hornets’ block.

“She’s one of the better jumpers in the area, and she can be one of the better hitters when she wants to be,” Klusmeyer said of Barry, who tallied a match-high 14 kills. “I’m looking forward to seeing her progress throughout the season.”

The Mustangs finish pool play 2-1.

Suns continue pursuit of tournament title

After a shaky start to both sets, Southeastern flexed its muscle in pulling away from West Hancock 25-14, 25-14.

The Titans won four of the first five points in the first set and the opening three points of the second set, but the Suns stormed back each time. They scored eight points in a row — a stretch that featured four kills by Amanda Stephens — and 12 of the final 14 points in the first set, and they scored nine of 10 points after trailing 3-0 in the second set.

“Sometimes you don’t really know how to explain (those slow starts),” Suns coach Tim Kerr said. “It can be just a function of getting going and stepping into the reality that you’re playing. It’s not like basketball where you can run up and down the court and get settled. It’s just all of a sudden the ball’s on you, and you have to perform.”

Amanda Stephens paced the Suns with 13 kills, while her younger sister Kara dished out 15 assists.

“This was a good tune-up again for tomorrow night,” said Kerr, whose team can seal a championship pool spot with a win over Liberty in the final game of pool play on Friday. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get by tomorrow and have a nice Saturday in the championship pool.”

West Hancock concludes pool play 1-2.

Eagles handle Heat, will battle Suns on Friday

Liberty set up a showdown of undefeated pool play teams by taking care of Biggsville West Central 25-14, 25-20.

The Eagles fell behind 7-2 in the first set but rallied for six points in a row. They also trailed the Heat 11-8 before scoring the next 10 points on the serve of Raeleigh Wolf.

Senior middle hitter Maddy Gibbs led the Eagles with seven kills, while Andi Mixer and Claire Obert added six kills.

Liberty played without sophomore outside hitter Chandler John in Thursday’s match, which Eagles coach Ashley Wolf said could have contributed to the slow start, but as the players settled in, things started to click.

“We had to make some adjustments, and this was not something we usually ran, so they had to just run a couple before they got their vibe together and figured out that everything was okay,” Ashley Wolf said. “I have a lot of versatile girls who can play multiple positions, so just tweaked them around to where they are comfortable and I feel that they’re the most successful.”

Indians bounce back with win over Tigers

After a straight sets loss to Central on Wednesday, Payson Seymour delivered a sweep of their own by defeating Beardstown 25-17, 25-16 in Thursday’s opening game.

The Indians won 10 of the final 15 points of the first set and 15 of the final 23 in the second set after Beardstown kept it close in the early parts of both sets.

The final of Ava Stiffen’s six kills ended the match. Ella Archer and Aaliyah Williams each had five kills. Archer and Madi O’Dear had two blocks apiece, and Josie Fessler led the Indians with 12 digs.

“Our defense was on point,” Indians coach Stacy Gilmore said. “We were blocking like we needed to. Our offense was great. We struggled with our serves just a little bit, but other than that we played great.”

The Indians will again play the first game of the day on Friday as they face Illini West.